but in some case with these two americans kenneth bay and merrill newman, it seems nothing is happening and they are not sending signals as to what gets them out. the administration is playing it right, asking for the release, trying to marshall international support and maybe get the chinese involved to help get korean war veteran associations in the united states, very effective, to use their contacts. again, this is a very tragic story for the 85-year-old man with a heart condition, korean war veteran detained and right now we know very little of what's going to happen next. >> it's a terrible situation. thank you very much bill richardson. it has been four years since government contractor allen gross was imprisoned in cuba. gross's wife judy called on the president to get personally involved in securing her husband's release. >> i stand in front of the white house today to make sure that everyone, including president obama, hears alan's voice. alan went to cuba on behalf of our government and it is up to our government to secure his release. please, mr. president, don't leave alan